Tufting machine



Oct. 22, 1957 E. H. SHATTUCK 'TUFTING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 20, 1954 I 3nn entor WA/Pr H JHArru'cK fitter neg Oct. 22, 1957 H, SHATTUCK 2,810,471

TUFTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 20, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States. Patent "ice TUFTING MACHINE' Ewart H. Shattuck,.Ardsley, N. Y., assignor to Mohasco Industries, Inc.,.a corporationof New York Application'January 20, 1954, serial'No. 405,101

6 Claims. (Cl.'203.-110) This invention relates to needle tufting machines and has for an object to provide improved meansfor producing high and low pile loops in accordance with a selected pattern.

Another'object is ,torprovide mechanism of L'the above type inwhich the pattern maybe .easil'y changed Another object is to provide mechanism of theabove type which is adapted to substantially unlimitedipattern arrangements.

Another object is to provide a needle tufting machine having novel and improved details of construction and features of operation.

In needle tufting machines a variation in loop pile height is obtained by varying the tension of the pile ends in advance of the needle. A high tension causes the preceding loop to be pulled down during the next penetrating thrust of the needle, thus producing a low loop while a low tension allows the loop to remain at its original height, thus producing a high loop. Suitable variations in tension result in pile loops of correspondingly different heights.

Such variations in tension are produced by sets of squeeze rolls operating at different speeds or held under different pressures. When a plurality of sets of squeeze rolls are used, selected ends are run between the various squeeze rolls in accordance with the desired design. Variations in design are limited however by the number and control of the rolls.

In accordance with the present invention an endless pattern belt carrying a raised or depressed pattern is fed over one of a pair of squeeze rolls operating at a speed to produce a given tension. The ends are fed through a fixed tension device and then between the pattern belt and the cooperating squeeze roll.

In this arrangement with the fixed tension device producing a high tension and with the pattern belt operating at a speed to produce a low tension the ends will have a low tension when squeezed between a raised portion of the belt and the cooperating squeeze roll and will have a high tension when registering with a low or depressed portion of the belt. On the other hand, if the fixed tension device produces a low tension and the belt is driven at a speed to produce a high tension, the ends will have a high tension when squeezed between a raised portion of the pattern belt and the cooperating squeeze roll and will have a low tension at other times.

In another embodiment two pattern belts may be used with raised and depressed portions so disposed that an end is gripped by only one belt at a time. The two belts can be driven to produce difierent tensions so that a high loop is formed by the raised pattern of one belt and a lower pile loop is formed by the raised portions of the second belt.

The nature of the invention will be better understood by referring to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which specific embodiments of the invention are set forth for purposes of illustration.

2,810,471 Ratented O'ct. 22,- 1957" In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is--a partial perspective view-ofaneedle tufting machine embodying the invention; I q i Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view ori-f-a-lar-ger scale" illustratingtheessential-features ofthemachine;

Fig. 3* is an enlarged, detail view of the. loop forming stage; and

Fig. 47 is a partial perspectiveviewillustrating 'a further. embodiment ofthe invention. I I

Referring. to. the: drawings, more in: detail? a plurality of ends1-10rof pile yarmfrom a creel (not shown) are passed over squeeze rollers 111 and-12; then through guides 13von:needle bars; 14: and over guide-bar 15 to the. eyes16 ofneedles -17 which arecarrie'din the needle bar 14. The needlesl17 laremounted in abanlr topierce; a fabricrstrip r18J whichv isfed and held tight;between pairs of feed rolls 19 and 20. Hooks'21ron'--'a1rod: 22' 'are synchronized jwithr-thesneedl; motiontto'. engage the yarn "on the underside of the fabri'ciandsholdzthetsame in loops 23" when=the needle isWithdrawn:

The-portions ;of the ttufting' machinerthus. fan-described are mi standardzlconstructiona.except; for the duplicati'orr of squeeze rollers and only so much thereof has been shown as is necessary to an understanding of the present invention.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3 a pair of pattern belts 30 and 31 are passed around squeeze rolls 32 and 33 registering with squeeze rolls 11 and 12 respectively and around idler rolls 34 and 35 respectively. The pattern belt 30 is shown as having cut outs 36 but may be provided with depressed portions corresponding to the pattern design andthe belt 31 is provided with corresponding raised portions 37. The belt 31 grips the ends 10 only when a raised portion 37 contacts the yarn and the belt 30 grips the ends 10 at all times except when a cut out 36 or a depressed portion registers with the roll 11.

The belts 30 and 31 are driven at different speeds to produce different tensions on the ends 10 depending upon Whether the yarn is gripped by the belt 30 or by the belt 31. If for example the belt 30 is driven slower than the belt 31 it will produce a greater tension on the yarn ends. Due to this greater tension the previously formed loop will be pulled down by the next needle thrust, producing a low loop as indicated by loops 40. However, when the ends are gripped by the belt 31 a lesser tension is applied and the loops remain long as at 41.

If the belt 31 applies an intermediate tension the loopsare pulled down to a lesser extent to produce loops intermediate with loops 40 and 41 in length.

Three or more belts may be used if desired with patterns cut so that only one belt grips the yarn at a time. With the belts operating at different speeds loops of different lengths are formed.

In the embodiment of Fig. 4 the pattern belt is replaced by a pattern cylinder 45 having a raised design 46 and cooperating with a squeeze roll 47. The yarn ends pass through a fixed tension device comprising lower bar 50 mounted on a bracket 51, and upper bar 52 mounted to slide in a bracket 53 and held in pressure engagement with the yarns 10 by springs 54 (only one of which is shown), and the tension of which springs may be adjusted to vary the tension of the yarn.

In this embodiment it the fixed tension device produces a high tension and the cylinder 45 is driven at a speed to produce a low tension long loops will be formed when the yarns are gripped by the raised design 46 and low loops at other areas of the pattern. It the fixed tension device produces a lower tension and the cylinder 45 is driven to produce a high tension low loops will be formed when the yarn is gripped by the raised pattern 46 and high loops at other areas.

Obviously belts or cylinders may be used according to the repeat length of the selected pattern and the pattern can be easily changed by changing the belt or cylinder.

Although specific embodiments have been shown for purposes of illustration it is to be understood that the invention may beapplied to other uses as will be apparent to a person skilled in the art. V.

Whatisclaimedis: 1 f

1. In a needle tufting machine havingmeans including needles'feeding y n ends through'a fabric backing to form pile loops, cooperating tension members including a pair of moving surfaces between which the yarn passes, one of said surfaces having raised pattern'areas thereon to gripfthe yarn whe'nin registration therewith, and having other depressed areas to release said yarn when in registrationtherewith,said surface'being driven at a speed to change'thetensionon said yarn when gripped by said raised pattern areas so as to alter the pull down of the pile loops by the succeeding needle thrust.

2 A tufting machine as set forth in claim 1 in which themoving surface is a belt.

3.=A *tufting machine as set forth in claim 1 in which the moving surface isIa cylinder.

4. In a needle tufting machine having means including needles feeding yarn'ends through a fabric backing to form pile loops, at'least two tension devices to selectively ing to said pattern areas.

5. A needle tufting machine as set forth in claim 4 in which said tension devices each include an endless belt with raised and depressed areas, the raised areas on one belt corresponding to depressed areas in the other belt, said belts being driven to produce diflerent amounts of tension on said yarn.

6. A needle tufting device as set forth in claim 4 in which one of said tension devices is a fixed tension device and the pattern belt is driven to produce a tension difierent from that of said fixed tension device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 876,562 Kleutgen Jan, 14, 1908 1,831,485 Dykeman Nov. 10, 1931 1,863,049 Hermann June 14, 1932 1,909,531 Gladish May 16, 1933 

